#the second link is where they sold the tickets

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Good Omens filming locations masterpost! ❤ 🐍😊 Part 2

(here to part 1 :))

(here to part 3 :))

Here to the map :)

Others in England (cont):

Tadfield Manor (S01E01, S01E02) - Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross

Scene: The Tadfield Manor where the satanic nuns run the hospital in the first episode and Aziraphale and Crowley visit in the second episode

Availability (as of 2024): The manor has been in private hands since 2016 - in 2023 sold again, I didn't find on the internet that it would be available to visit in any form, the manor is not visitble from the public road.

Link on the map

Four Horsemen meeting (S01E05) – Old School Cafe, Longcross Road B386

Scene: The cafe where Four Horsemen meet

Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the cafe Mon-Fri 7:30-15:00, Sat-Sun 8:30-15:00

Link on the map

Heaven middle floors (S01E01, S01E03, S01E04, S01E05) - Weybridge Business Park, Addlestone

Scene: The Heaven middle floors scenes in season 1 were filmed here

Availability (as of 2024): The places can be sort of seen from the street but I don't think that visiting is possible

Link on the map

Pollution by the river (S01E04) – River Wey Navigation, Guildford

Scene: The International Express Man delivers the package to Pollution

(fun fact: this one was the harderst one to pin down the exact location, I only knew bc of an article that the schooting took place by "Wey Navigation" which is a river long 32km (miles), I tried to find a better mention or through google maps comparing place for a long time but couldn't, finally I wrote to the River Way Navigation organization on facebook but they had no record of the shooting. Finally, in one of the photos I noticed that in the background there is a footbridge that I saw a photo of a similar footbridge while searching on a history of Wey Navigation river on the UK National Trust page and fortunately the previous mentioned facebook page knew where it was, WAHOO! :))

Availability (as of 2024): all day

Link on the map

Hogback Wood (S01E01, S01E02, S01E04, S01E05) - Painshill Park, Cobham

Scene: The Hogback Wood where The Them play, seen in several episodes.

Availability (as of 2024): The entrance to the park is paid (£11 with prebooking online on https://painshill.co.uk/visit-us/ticket-prices-booking/) They open at 10 and close at 16-18 depending on the season. The World Word II crater they shot the main scene at should be in the west-south tip of the park. The whole path there and back is 4km (2,5 miles).

Link on the map

International Express Man's house (S01E04) - Shetland Close, Guildford

Scene: The International Express Man leaves the house to make deliveries

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Agnes Nutter's village (S01E02) - Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester

Scene: The Agnes Nutter's village in episode two. In the map I highlighted which part we see the villagers and Witchfinder Major Pulsifer to through in the show.

Availability (as of 2024): The entrance fee is paid (£15.50 for an adult ticket prebooked online https://www.wealddown.co.uk/), it opens at 10 and closes at 16-17 depending on the month.

Link on the map

Tadfield Air Base (S01E05, S01E06) - RAF Upper Heyford, Bicester

Scene: For the shooting of the Tadfield Air Base the former RAF Upper Heyford was used, by the examining the google maps and screenshots from the series I think that the area labeled as 'Shelter 9' was used.

Availability (as of 2024): The place is no longer used by RAF purposes, there are several companies that use certain areas it but it is not available for public. The Upper Heyford Heritage though organizes (paid - £25.00) tours through the airbase: http://www.upperheyfordheritage.co.uk/home-page/tour-booking/

Link on the map

Soho (S1) – Bovingdon Airfield Studios

Scene: The Aziraphale's bookshop and Soho in season one were built at Bovingdon Airfield Studios

Availability (as of 2024): The studios can be rented but I don't think they are publicly available – the Soho is not there anymore though, it is now build in studios in Scotland.

Link on the map

The motorway on fire (S01E05) - M96 Training Motorway at Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

Scene: The motorway on fire when Crowley is heading for Tadfield was filmed at M95 Training Motorway at Fire Service College that is usually used for training emergency service professionals

Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available.

Link on the map

South Africa:

The 1941 church (S01E03) - St. Saviour's Church, Claremont, Cape Town

Scene: The scene in Season 1 where Aziraphale is outsmarted by the Nazis and is saved by Crowley

Availability (as of 2024): Their facebook says Always open

Link on the map

Famine at a fancy restaurant (S01E03) - Mutual Heights building, Cape Town

Scene: The restaurant where we meet Famine for the first time

Availability (as of 2024): It is a building with flats, offices and a reception, not available to public.

Link on the map

Crowley in a cinema (S01E04) - Joseph Stone Auditorium, Cape Town

Scene: Crowley in a cinema (with Neil Gaiman cameo) watching animated rabbits when Hastur interrupts

Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available as such but they there are presentations and and such happening there https://www.facebook.com/josephstone1968/

Link on the map

Aziraphale dancing gavotte (S01E04) - Casa Labia, Cape Town

Scene: Aziraphale dancing gavotte in a discreet gentlemen's club in Portland Place in the late 1880s was filmed at Casa Labia in Cape Town

Availability (as of 2024): Casa labia is hotel and a restaurant so it can be visited in that way https://www.casalabia.com/

Link on the map

Anathema's child home (S01E02) - Llandudno Rock Villa, Cape Town

Scene: The home which we see Anathema as a child with The Book (in the show it's Malibu, California)

Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the villa itself seems that it can be rented

Link on the map

Eden desert and ep6 time bubble desert (S01E01,S01E06) – Atlantis Dunes, Cape Town

Scene: The Eden desert scenes and the time bubble with Adam and AC were filmed in the Atlantis Dunes at the outskirts of Cape Town

Availability (as of 2024): The Atlantis Dunes – or Witzands Aquifer Conservation Area – is a protected natural area. Biking adventures can be booked through https://atlantisdunes.com/ or also other activities through https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/Witzands%20Aquifer%20Nature%20Reserve

Link on the map

The apple tree in the Garden of Eden (S01E01) - Waterfall Valley (formerly Cascade Country Manor), Paarl

Scene: The Eden apple tree with the waterfall in the background was filmed at the retreat Waterfall Valley (then Cascade Country Manor) (the tree was added by the film crew for the scene)

Availability (as of 2024): I am not sure if you can visit the waterfall like that or you have to be a guest in the restreat. The retreat is available for booking: https://www.waterfallvalley.online/

Link on the map

There were other scenes also filmed at South Africa (thought not specified exactly where): Hell was filmed in Cape Town in a former abattoir. The Noah’s Ark scene and the Crucifixion scene were filmed on a windswept plain just outside Cape Town. Also the Meggido scenes. The entire village used for the scene with War causing mayhem in an african village is in fact a set, built on scrubland over a sand mine just outside Cape Town. The French Revolution scene wa shot on a set that had been used twenty-four hours earlier for the scene in Ancient Rome. Famine visiting a burger place with Elvis was shot on a set in Cape Town. Also some scene's in Anathema's cottage with Anathema and Newt.

SEASON 2

Most of season 2 has been shot inside the film studio in Bathgate (f.e. the whole Soho has been built there), the driving throught the Blitz London in the Glasgow’s Wardpark Studios, the inside of the 1827 mausoleum in the River City studios in Dumbarton, the Hell in S2 has been shot in an old disused factory (not specififed which one). The shots of the Edinburgh castle have been shot from the top of the The Caledonian hotel.

Edinburgh:

Crowley and Shax in St James's Park (S02E01) – Inverleith Park, Edinburgh

Scene: Crowley and Shax meet to discuss the news in St James's Park – the scene though was actually filmed in Scotland.

Availability (as of 2024): All day

Link on the map

The place where Crowley parks the Bentley (S02E01, S02E02) – Circus Lane, Edinburgh

Scene: The place Crowley goes to to park the Bentley and sleep there

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

AC and Elspeth in Edinburgh (S02E03) - Moray Place, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth are taking the first "pickled herring" to be sold, Aziraphale and Crowley are debating good and evil

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Detective Aziraphale parks the Bentley (S02E03) – Victoria Street, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale arrives in the Bentley and happily goes to investigate

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

The Resurrectionist (S02E03, S02E06) - Cask and Barrel, Edinburgh

Scene: Aziraphale goes to investigate to The Resurrectionist bar (also in Gabriel's memories with Beelzebub) – filmed in the Cask and Barrel bar

Availability (as of 2024): outside all day, inside 12-24, Fri-Sat 12-1

Link on the map

Stirling:

Edinburgh cementery (S02E03) - Old Town Cemetery, Stirling

Scene: The cemetery in episode 3 was filmed at the Stirling cemetery (grave, some gravestones, Gabriel's statue and the crypt has been added by the crew for the shooting)

Availability (as of 2024): all day

Link on the map

AC and Elspeth going through Edinburgh (S02E03) – Broad Street, Stirling

Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth going through Edinburgh while Aziraphale is trying to persuade her that she could do something else

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

Meeting Wee Morag (S02E03) - Mar's Wark, Stirling

Scene: The small corridor behind the gate where Wee Morag is staying

Availability (as of 2024): The front all day, the corridor if not through the gate then hopefully from the other side

Link on the map

Others in Scotland:

AC drinking whiskey with Mr Darlymple and the corridor to Mr Darlymple (S02E03) – Hopetoun House, Queensferry

Scene: Aziraphale and Crowley drinking whisky with Mr Darlymple while he explains why he needs fresh dead bodies also at the house has been filmed the corridor reading to Mr Darlymple

Availability (as of 2024): Hopetoun is visitable, Friday 29 March 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024 Open 5 days per week (Thursday – Monday) from 11am to 5pm, £13.50 for an adult ticket for House and Grounds (to see both), or £13.50 for Grounds (to see the corridor)

Link on the map

The Windmill Theatre in 1941 (S02E04) - Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness

Scene: The theatre that Crowley delivered the broken alcohol to and Aziraphale performed the bullet catch

Availability (as of 2024): You can visit the cinema for a movie or an event https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/whats-on/

Link on the map

Aziraphale's trip to Edinburgh (S02E03) and Shax hitchhiking (S02E04) - Forrestburn Hillclimb, Shotts

Scene: The scene from Aziraphale's view when he travels to Edinburgh and Crowley calls him was filmed here.

Availability (as of 2024): Not available to public. The track is used by the members of the Monklands Sporting Car Club for special events. Outside of these the track is closed and no access is available except for hiring for special events/filming.

Link on the map

Soho and more (S2) - The Pyramids Studio, Bathgate

Scene: The S2 Soho has been built in the Bathgate studio, also there were built and shot many other scenes

Availability (as of 2024): It is not available to visit for public

Link on the map

London:

Possibly only streets were filmed and the Bentley was added with VFX.

C on the way to A after A calls him (S02E01) - Wardour Street, London

Scene: Crowley on the way to Aziraphale after Aziraphale calls him (to tell him about Gabriel)

Availability (as of 2024): street all day

Link on the map

(continue to Part 3 :))

[something-tofightfor]

To: You, From: Santa (2)

Pairing: Tim Rockford x Female Reader

Word Count: 7,912

Summary: You have a better idea where you stand with Tim, but that only makes things a little more complicated - especially when it comes to figuring out your next moves.

Rating: M: language.

Author's Note:

Part 2 is here!

This is not connected to Black Days. Reader works in Tim's precinct, but not as a fellow officer/detective.

I really enjoyed writing this story, and I'm glad I was able to get something holiday themed out this year, even if it's not as extensive as I've written in the past.

Thanks for reading!

*dividers by @/strangergraphics

(Part 1)

Over the next week, Tim focused on the hours you’d spent together at the mall and dinner, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit to himself that those thoughts occupied an unusually large amount of his mental bandwith. 

He was disappointed that the movie tickets had been sold out, because it would have been a perfect way to introduce the idea of the two of you seeing it together in a low stakes way. It would not only have been bringing a conversation full circle, but getting a feel for whether or not you liked the idea of seeing him again when there was no underlying need. 

He thought that you were into the idea. He certainly was, and had been somewhat upset by the fact that the restaurant he’d chosen hadn’t had much of a wait, meaning that you were seated and served quickly. The conversation throughout dinner had been constant - both of you using the opportunity to get to know each other better and in a more relaxed situation.

It had strayed into flirtatious territory a couple times - just like the hours in the mall had - but neither of you took that any further. It was probably for the best; dating a coworker, even casually, was a tricky thing to navigate. Even though we work in different departments. Even though there’s not really conflict of interest. Even though … He raised the coffee cup to his lips and wrinkled his nose at the lukewarm liquid. “Even though I think I want to date her.” 

He hadn’t had any real reason to visit you in the evidence room, but he’d still gone down on two separate occasions to say hello. You’d been happy to see him, taking a few minutes to talk to him between your other duties, but you hadn’t brought up seeing him outside of work again - so Tim hadn’t either. 

But you had thanked him for dinner. And you had sent him a few texts throughout the week, sending links to things that had made you laugh. And it was those messages - and the memory of you the previous weekend - that motivated him to return to the mall to buy you the dinosaur socks as the final part of your gift.

Tim had also bought a new roll of paper for your gifts, wrapping each of them separately first and then all three together in a larger box. There was still a week before the party, but he didn’t want to leave anything until last minute, since he knew how easy it was for him to get sidetracked with a case. 

It happened on that Friday, Tim poring over files in his office until a knock at his door startled him. He figured it was one of the other officers on the floor, but was stunned when at the call of his voice to come in, the door cracked open and you peeked in, an anxious look on your face. “I hope I’m not bothering you, but I was on my way out and saw your car was still here, so…” Opening the door all the way, you held up a bag. “I ordered dinner for you.”

“You what?” He flattened his hands atop his desk, the pressure of his fingers making the paper crinkle. “Dinner?” 

“Yeah, I …” You took a few steps closer, still holding the bag out. “I ordered from the place we talked about the other night, but I didn’t know what you liked so I guessed.” 

“And what did you guess?” He stood, rounding the desk and walking toward you, letting himself imagine what it would be like to slide an arm around you and pull you closer for just a few seconds. I’d like that a lot. “Let’s see how well you know me.” 

“I don’t know you well.” He took the bag from you but made no motion to open it, instead keeping his eyes on you. “But um…” You crossed your arms, lifting your shoulders in a quick shrug. “You had that peanut butter brownie thing the other night at dinner, so I figured you weren’t allergic to nuts.” 

“I’m not.” He fought back a smile, fingers tightening around the bag handle. “Good catch.” That got a brief grin from you, Tim watching as some of the anxiety bled from you and you relaxed the set of your shoulders.

“I got you Kung Pao chicken and fried rice. I think they gave me extra because it’s almost closing time, but -” What? He looked down at his watch, both eyes widening at the realization that it was nearly 11 PM. 

“Fuck, it’s late. I should…” He looked back at his desk, sighing. “Why are you here so late?” 

“There was no coverage. Someone called off, and I volunteered to stay until they could find someone else. Mina just showed up a little while ago and I’m off tomorrow anyway so it’s fine.” His stomach growled, both of you glancing down at it. “Sounds like it’s a good thing I came up here.” 

He agreed. He hadn’t even realized just how hungry he was until that moment because he’d been so wrapped up in what he was doing. But if she handed me this whole bag, where’s hers? “Did you order anything for yourself?” He frowned, reaching up to pull his glasses off and tuck them into the front pocket of his dress shirt. “Please don’t tell me you only ordered me food, you need to -”

“I did.” You pointed at the door. “I just asked for it to be packaged separately so I could leave yours with you.” You bit your lip and he didn’t even try to keep himself from looking down to watch, his own lips parting at the sight. “I’m going to eat at home.” 

“Eat with me.” He took a half step closer, Tim’s heartbeat elevated. “Unless you need to get home, I mean. I can shove this shit off to the side, and -”

“No, you can’t.” You laughed, taking a deep breath. “We both know you’re not going to shove any of that to the side.” She’s right. “But I’ll go back into the break room and get my dinner and by that time, I’m sure you can clear off some space for us to eat by stacking everything into neat little piles.” It was your turn to wink at him, the action catching him by surprise - but it made him want to reach out even more. 

He managed to stop himself - barely - as you headed out of the office and back into the main area, and Tim only gave himself a few seconds to collect his thoughts before he moved. He stacked his notebooks and folders into two short piles, clearing off enough space that you could both eat without risking messes. And he thought about what you bringing him dinner might mean the whole time, going back and forth over whether or not to say anything when you came back into the room. It might weird her out. And I don’t want to do that, especially since I have a gift for her next week. 

You knocked briefly when you reentered, but didn’t pause until you were sitting down across from him and pulling your own food out of your bag. He watched for a few seconds and then cleared his throat. “It’s much nicer having you sitting across from me than the people who are usually in that seat.” He sat down and then reached for the bag with his food in it, ripping the staples open. “Bet this conversation will be more pleasant, too.” 

And it was. You and Tim talked while you ate, his attention focused on the way you paused between bites to think, only looking away from where he sat when you were deep in thought. As time passed, he realized that it was more than a crush or a physical attraction - Tim was interested in you. 

“You’re spacing out.” You reached across the table, poking the back of his hand gently with your fork. “Is dinner not good?”

“It’s great.” He picked up a chunk of chicken with his chopsticks, holding it up. “I don’t usually get this, but maybe I should start.” You looked worried for a few seconds and he shook his head, chewing and swallowing quickly. “Cashew chicken and Mongolian beef are what I go between.” He pointed at the container in front of him with one finger. “But you were close. It’s impressive.” 

“Just because I work in the evidence room, that doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention to y- to things, Detective.” You’d recovered quickly but he’d heard it, and you both knew it. “Now I know for next time.” 

“Next time here, or …” He took a deep breath. “Or next time in general?” Tim’s tongue darted out to lick sauce from the corner of his mouth. “Because I’d be alright with either of those options.” 

It was a risk. He was putting himself out there, tentatively telling you that if you were thinking about something not related to work, so was he. “Would you?” He heard the hopeful note to your voice, your lips parting as you waited for his answer. He didn’t say anything, but instead nodded, not breaking eye contact. I hope this wasn’t a mistake. “I would be too.” 

The admission hung in the room between you, and for a few seconds, Tim held his breath. But when you grinned at him, he let it out, closing his eyes and smiling back at you before covering his face with one hand. Really? “Feels pretty ridiculous, right?” He lowered his hand, tipping his head to the side. “Two adults getting nervous about admitting something like this?”

“Not ridiculous.” You closed your takeout container before putting it carefully back into the bag and tying the top closed. “Cautious, maybe?” Leaning back in your chair, you crossed your arms. “We work together. It’s good that we’re …” You narrowed your eyes. “You said you wouldn’t ever date someone you worked with, so -”

“I said it gets messy, not that I never would.” He wiped both hands and then dropped the napkin on the top of his desk. “And between us, there’s no rank differential to worry about, so that’s irrelevant.” Is this really happening? “We should still be … careful though.” 

“I agree.” You stood up, looking down at where Tim sat. “Which is why I think I should go now.” 

“What?” He stood, too, keeping the desk between you. “Why? It’s late, I should go home, too, and -”

“It is late. And you should go home.” Your smile was back, Tim watching as your eyebrows rose. “But I’m not sure either of us expected things to go this way tonight, so if we aren’t careful, we could fuck it up.” 

“How?” He crossed his arms, watching as your eyes locked on his chest and the way his holster harness moved with the motion. I’ll remember that. “How are we going to fuck it up?” 

“Do you want me to be honest?” He nodded, watching as you took a quick breath, steadying yourself for whatever you were about to say. “Ok.” You glanced up at the ceiling and then met his gaze again, unblinking. “If I don’t walk out of this office right now, I’m going to come over there and kiss you, and as much as I’m dying to know what that might feel like, I don’t want to kiss you for the first time after eating takeout food in your office.” 

He was stunned - not because you admitted to wanting to kiss him, but because you were actively explaining why you didn’t want to do it then. “I agree. That kind of kiss is …” He shrugged, pushing his lower lip out as though he was in thought. “Third or fourth date territory.” 

Your return laugh was a welcome one, and as you cautiously stepped forward, you steadied yourself again, to Tim’s surprise. “Thank you for understanding, Tim. I thought …” You trailed off, and before he could stop himself, Tim reached for you with both hands. When you took them, fingers sliding across his palms and then curling around his fingers, he closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. Get your shit together. “I thought you’d be upset.” 

“I’m not.” He squeezed your hands back, saying your name. “We’ve got time.” And then, before he had a chance to talk himself out of it, he pulled his hands free from yours and wrapped his arms around you, urging you closer to his chest. You paused for a moment and then hugged him back, one hand against the center of his back and the other higher. He held you close until he felt your shoulders shaking and then released you, worried that he’d overstepped. But she’s laughing? I don’t understand. 

“The holsters.” You pressed your lips together, backing away as you lifted a hand to bite down on one knuckle, head moving back and forth slowly. “I’ve thought about touching that harness more times than -” Unbelievable. I was so worried for nothing.  

“Go home.” He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as you started laughing. “Go home now or I’m going to count the breakroom as date one, that visit to the evidence locker as date number two, the mall as date number three, and this as -” 

“Goodnight, Tim.” You went back to the chair you’d been in and pulled your coat on, fighting back laughter. “I hope you get out of here at a decent hour.” He hoped so, too, but knew that realistically, he’d still be there for a few more. 

“Can I walk you out to your -”

“No.” You picked up your leftovers, shaking your head. “Because if you walk me out there, we’ll end up talking. And that means you’ll work later. I don’t want that.” You paused by the door, turning to look back and over your shoulder at Tim. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for the offer.” 

He wanted to say something else, but chose not to, instead just giving you a quick smile and sliding a hand into his pocket. You closed the door behind you, and once you were gone, Tim tipped his head back and stared up at the ceiling, rubbing hard at one eye. 

Knowing you felt the same as him was one thing - but moving forward in a way that wouldn’t fuck it all up was another. 

You were excited for the party, and knowing that you’d finally get to give Tim his gifts made you almost giddy. 

There hadn’t been much time for you to talk at work since the night you’d taken him dinner, but you’d managed to have a few short conversations… and the texts that had flown back and forth between the two of you was a completely different story. 

It sometimes took him a while to respond, but when you had Tim’s attention, you had his full attention. The flirting had continued in the messages, the fact that you were interested in each other being out in the open a welcome relief. 

You hadn’t made any further plans aside from seeing each other at the party, but you had a feeling that it was coming. Tim knew you were off for two weeks, which meant that aside from the actual holidays, your schedule was wide open. I’m not traveling, so that frees up even more. 

When you clocked out and headed home to get ready, you spent extra time on yourself, dressing up a little more than you normally would have. Just because. And when you got back to the precinct and stepped inside, you were glad. 

There were plenty of people in uniform and in typical work clothes, but the others that were off and in on their free time had dressed nicely, too. You said hello to a few people as you walked in, stopping to talk to David and Amy and complimenting her for organizing everything - but you had a goal. 

People were putting their gifts on the desks of the recipients, and after a quick look around told you that Tim was not in the main group of people, you headed for his office.Maybe he just lost track of time. 

But his door was closed and locked, and there wasn’t a light on inside. Maybe he isn’t back yet. Your fingers tightened on the package you held, teeth digging into your lower lip as you tried to figure out where to leave your gift that he’d find it. Maybe the tree in the break room. “Rockford and Bales are gone.” Turning, you saw Marty leaning against the wall a few feet behind you. “They got called out to a case earlier today and didn’t come back yet.” 

“Oh.” Trying to swallow your disappointment, you held up the wrapped box. “I had Tim for the Secret Santa, and I was trying to leave his gift, but …” 

“Yeah, he’s not here.” Marty sighed. “Sorry.” 

“It’s not your fault.” You stepped closer, giving him a quick smile. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll just put this under the tree and let him know he can pick it up next time he’s in.”

“I’ll walk back with you.” He fell into step beside you, and spoke again after a few steps. “I want to apologize.” What? You both stopped, and in surprise, you turned toward him. “I came on pretty strong when I kept asking you out. You said no once, and I shouldn’t have asked again. I didn’t mean to weird you out.”

“It wasn’t weird. It was just … I didn’t want to be mean about saying no, but I really didn’t want to lead you on.” He nodded, and then gave you a smile, extending his hand. “Thank you for your apology.” You took his hand and shook it, smiling back. “And to be completely honest with you, I think asking Anna out for coffee or something would be a good idea.”

“Really?” You nodded as his face lit up. “I didn’t think she… huh.” A few months earlier, watching someone that had been interested in you pivoting so quickly to someone else would have hurt, even if you weren’t actually into them. But this doesn’t. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He gestured to the gift you held. “Have you checked for yours yet?” 

“No.” You stopped walking as you reached the main room again, the sounds of the party getting louder. “I hope no one took it down to evidence, but since I’m not on shift, I don’t think they would.” 

He smiled, nodding. “I hope you find it. And I hope you have a good holiday.” 

“You, too.” You separated then, Marty disappearing into the crowd as he called out to one of his fellow officers, and you heading for the tree. His apology had been unexpected but genuine, and you appreciated the effort. Maybe seeing that I was uncomfortable was all he needed. 

There were a few gifts under the tree, and as you read through the names, you frowned. Yours wasn’t among them, which either meant that the person who had your name hadn’t arrived yet - or they had taken it down to evidence. Fuck it. I’ll go check later. 

You set Tim’s present down in the small pile with the others and then straightened up, letting out a breath. He’d get there when he could; there was no point in focusing on the fact that he hadn’t shown up at the beginning. 

But even as you made your way over to where the food table was, part of you was saddened by the fact that if he didn’t make it to the party, there was a chance you wouldn’t see him for two weeks. 

You spent the next few hours mingling. 

It was nice to associate with your coworkers on down time, and even though some of them came and went briefly as they took breaks or began and ended their shifts, you enjoyed talking to them. You’d interacted with just about everyone in the precinct at one time or another thanks to your position, which meant that people were friendly and knew you by name. 

But Tim and his partner still hadn’t arrived by 9:30… and neither had your gift. So you took the elevator down to the evidence locker and stepped into the quiet room, a plate of cookies and a can of Diet Coke in hand. 

“Anthony?” You called out to your counterpart as you got closer to the counter. “I brought you cookies before they all got eaten.” He popped up from behind the desk, his curly hair bouncing as he stood. 

“Oh, shit! Thank you!” He reached up, removing one of his earbuds. “I could probably go up and hang out for a few minutes, but knowing my luck that’s when someone would need me.” You laughed, sliding the plate and can across the counter. “Am I missing anything good? Any gossip?” He picked up a frosted reindeer, biting one of the antlers off. “Did anyone sneak alcohol in like last year?”

You laughed at that, shaking your head. “No. No alcohol that I could tell. Everyone’s just stuffing themselves with cookies and those little snowball bread things.” He groaned, eyes dropping to the plate. “I couldn’t grab those, though, so if you want one, you’ll have to go up there.” You leaned against the counter. “And no good gossip either. I’ve just been listening to people talk about what they got their kids, or what they hope their husbands and wives got them.” 

“Boring.” He rolled his eyes. “Maybe I should go up. I need to get my present anyway.” You nodded, looking around the room. 

“Did anyone bring mine down? People have been leaving them on desks and in offices, so I thought…”

“No, you’re the first person I’ve seen in two hours.” He bit into another cookie. “No one brought anything down for you… or for me.” Oh. “It wasn’t upstairs?” 

“Nope.” You tapped your fingers on the countertop. “I checked under the tree a couple times, and nothing. I figured people were still coming in, but…” You shrugged. “Maybe my person forgot.” 

“There are a few people that were out today.” He pulled the plate toward him and then set it down on the desk behind the counter. “Maybe you had one of them.” 

“Maybe.” You looked up at the clock. “But I think the party’s over soon, so if you wanted to go up, you should do it now. That way you can thank whoever got your name before they leave. Unless they already did. And maybe Tim will have… 

It hit you then - if Tim and his partner weren’t at the party, and your gift wasn’t at the party, it was possible that one of them had drawn your name. What are the odds? You said goodbye - and Merry Christmas - to Anthony and headed back upstairs. 

The first place you checked was the tree. Your gift to Tim was still beneath it, and so were a few others including Annthony’s, but most had been claimed. Still nothing. Pulling out your phone, you scrolled to Tim’s text messages, the most recent one from the previous day. It’s weird that he didn’t say anything about not coming. Or being late, or … You typed one quickly, not pausing before you sent it. 

You’re missing the party, Tim. Hope you’re ok. 

It was stupid to be concerned; you knew how long it could take to process a crime scene and interview witnesses. If they’d had to go out of town, it would take even longer, and the last thing on his mind would have been the party - or a present. But he needs to have it before tomorrow, or… You tapped your foot on the floor and looked back over at the tree. 

People were beginning to file out, saying their goodbyes and making their way toward the door, and you realized that there was no reason for you to stay. It’ll look desperate if I’m just waiting, and who knows if he’ll even come in. 

You checked your phone once more - the message to Tim unread - and made your decision. I’ll leave him a note. There were Post-It notes in the breakroom, and you scrawled a message onto one, keeping it brief. 

Left a gift for you under the tree. 

-- Your Secret Santa

Once it was written, you went back to Tim’s office and stuck the paper to the glass in his door, hoping that it would stay until he found it. That’s all I can do. That done, you headed back to the main space, where the crowd was much smaller than it had been only minutes earlier. 

You said your goodbyes, too, laughing with one of the dispatch girls about how you didn’t know what you were going to do with all of your free time, and then with one last look beneath the tree - Tim’s present and his partner’s two of the only few left there - you turned for the door. 

The air was damp again as you drove home, but there wasn’t much traffic on the road, which made your trip short. There was still no reply from Tim by the time you were inside and changed into your pajamas, so you plugged your phone in and then curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around your shoulders.

You hoped that wherever Tim was and whatever he was doing, he was alright. And you hoped that when he made it into his office, he got your note … and liked your gift. 

He was pissed. 

There was no other way to put it, and despite the fact that Tim kept his expression even and his hands loose on the steering wheel while he and Bales headed back to the precinct, inside he was seething. 

They’d driven out to the crime scene together earlier in the day, and even with Tim’s methodical approach to the job, it had taken hours to wrap - but none of the delays had been his fault. Goddamn Bales and his need to talk to everyone. 

He glanced over, eyeing the other man’s lit up phone screen in the passenger seat. “The party’s over.” Bales cleared his throat. “Naomi said to tell you there’s leftovers in the break room fridge, and that the presents are -”

“Of course it’s over.” Tim muttered the words under his breath, reaching up to push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “It wouldn’t have been if we’d left when I wanted to.” 

“What? I didn’t hear you, Rockford.” 

“I said, if we’d left when I wanted to, we could have caught the end of it.” He tightened his grip on the wheel. “And we wouldn’t have to hope someone saved us cookies.” He wondered what you’d thought when he hadn’t showed up. He hoped that you’d still had a good night, and that you weren’t too disappointed that there hadn’t been a gift waiting for you.

By the time they pulled into one of the empty parking spaces in the lot, it was almost midnight, and Tim barely took the time to say goodbye to Bales before he veered off and toward his office. He saw the Post-It from down the hall and sped up to get there faster, wondering if it was from you. 

He’d seen your writing before - both in the logbook in the evidence room and on the sheet you’d turned in for your Secret Santa list, and Tim knew immediately that the note on his door was from you. “That means…” His heart thumped almost uncomfortably at the realization that not only had he gotten you for the exchange … but you’d gotten him in return. 

He stuck the note into the pocket of his coat and then unlocked his office door, crossing the room to his desk. Your gift was sitting on top of it, neatly wrapped and waiting, and without thinking twice, he picked it up and turned back toward the hallway. 

Tim stopped long enough to pick the gift with his name up from beneath the twinkling lights on the tree. There was more writing on the tag, though your name still wasn’t included. But it’s her. He thought about opening it right there, fingers itching to tear the paper off, but Tim stopped himself. 

It was late - probably too late, but he didn’t care. Tim set both gifts down onto one of the tables and then pulled his phone out. It was the first time he’d looked at it in hours, and his stomach dropped at the sight of two missed messages from you. The first was from while you were at the party, and the other had come later, and seemed more urgent. 

I know you’re busy, but it’s strange that you haven’t even looked at the first message. Please let me know you’re alright. 

“Shit.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, checking the time. You’d sent the most recent one almost an hour earlier, and he knew, even from very limited time spent with and talking to you, that it meant you were worried. But is it too late to text her back? 

He decided moments later that it wasn’t, and after he’d sent the message he stood waiting, phone in hand as he reread the words. 

I’m fine. Got stuck at a scene, and just made it back to my office. I’m really sorry I didn’t answer earlier. 

He was sorry for more than just not getting your message sooner, but it didn’t seem right to apologize for the other things via text. He ignored Bales calling out his name and just stared at both gifts on the desk, working his lower lip over with his teeth. 

It was probably bad idea, and he knew it, but Tim didn’t give himself too long to think before grabbing both gifts again and heading for the doors that led to the parking lot. 

You hadn’t replied by the time he parked in front of your place, but he only paused briefly to put his glasses onto the dashboard before striding to your front door, gifts in hand. I can just leave hers here. She’ll get it in the morning. Tim glanced down at the wrapped package, watching as his thumb rubbed over where he’d written your name on the tag. No. 

Shifting both gifts to one arm, he raised his hand and knocked three times on the door before taking a step backward, letting out the breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. If you didn’t answer, he’d take it as a sign. She’s probably sleeping. It’s late. 

But there was still a light flickering behind the blinds in your window that looked like it was coming from a TV, and he figured that if that was still on, there was a chance you were in the room with it. I hope she is. I hope … fuck. 

He shifted back and forth while he waited, contemplating knocking again … and then he heard the sound of the deadbolt turning, followed by the slight creak of the doorknob as it twisted - and then your face peeked through the crack after it opened. “Hel- Tim? What are you doing here?” 

You flung the door all the way open, and even though he wanted to answer right away, he couldn’t. Instead, he was stuck on the way you were dressed - more casual than he’d ever seen you in an oversized sweatshirt and joggers, both feet stuffed into slippers. “I…” Get it together, Rockford. “I’m here because I missed the party.” He inched forward, holding up his gift. “And I thought my Secret Santa would want to see me open the gift she got me.” 

He watched the expression on your face change, going through at least three different emotions in only a few seconds, and despite his experience in the field, he couldn’t read any of them. Is she mad? “What time is it? I fell asleep after I texted you, and …” You reached up, rubbing at your eyes with both hands. “Shit. Come in, Tim. It’s cold out.” 

He stepped into your front hall and you reached around him to pull the door shut, your arm brushing along his side. “Should I take my shoes off?” 

“You can.” You stepped back, and he was pleased to see you looked more alert - and there was a glint of happiness in your eyes. “And your coat, too.” You pointed. “There’s a hook on the wall.” And then you held your hands out, your smile growing. “I’ll hold those.” He handed over the gifts and made quick work of removing the long, cream trench coat he liked to wear in cooler weather, and his shoes, looking down long enough to see how they looked next to yours. Stop it. “We can sit in the living room if you want. C’mon.” 

He followed you wordlessly, one hand rubbing anxiously at the back of his neck. There was a blanket balled up on one end of the couch, and when you reached over to lift it after setting the wrapped gifts onto your coffee table, he finally spoke, swallowing hard before he started. 

“I shouldn’t have come. It’s late, and you didn’t answer. But I thought you seemed concerned, and I wanted … I got back to the precinct and saw the note on my office door.” You straightened up, crossing your arms and pressing your lips together as you stared at him. 

“I was worried. I knew you were at a crime scene, but it seemed… I don’t know. It seemed really late. And you said you were looking forward to the party, so I thought it was weird that -”

“I was looking forward to giving you your gift.” He pointed at the table. “I wanted to see you open it.” Your lips parted as your eyes moved away from his face and to the table, arms dropping to your sides.

“We got each other.” You laughed, closing your eyes. “When my gift didn’t show up tonight, and you and Bales were out, I thought … I thought maybe it was one of you. But I helped you shop, Tim. I didn’t ask for a hat, and that’s what you bought, and -”

“You picked out a hat for my niece.” He shrugged, taking a couple steps closer. “I’m sorry I lied to you.” 

“No you’re not.” You moved in his direction, the smile still on your lips. “You did it more than once. When we were in the break room, and when you were in the evidence locker, and -”

“I did.” Tim cocked his head to the side and shrugged. “But it was for a good reason, and it meant I got to spend an afternoon with you.” He put a hand on his hip, gesturing with one finger on his other one. “But you lied to me, too. You told me that…” He trailed off as you shook your head slowly, your smile widening. 

“I never lied to you. I just told you nothing about who I had to buy a gift for.” You were right, and both of you knew it. “But yes, Tim. I picked your name. And after spending time with you last weekend, I thought maybe …” You looked away, and he caught the uncertainty on your face as you chewed on your lower lip, eyes on the front window. “Fuck it.” 

You moved before he understood fully that it was happening, closing the distance between you and reaching up with both hands to touch his jaw, guiding his mouth toward yours. Holy shit, she’s… 

The kiss was brief - more of a touch of your lips to his than anything else - and then you broke away, taking two steps backward and covering your mouth with one hand, eyes wide. “I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have … shit, Tim. I’m -”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” Tim reached out, his fingers closing around your elbow. “But I think we can do better than that.” I know we can. He pulled you toward him, his other arm winding around you, and that time when you kissed, it was Tim that initiated it… and he didn’t pull away immediately.  

You didn’t know what you were more surprised by: the fact that Tim had shown up at your house after midnight with two gifts in hand, or that the two of you were standing in front of your couch kissing. It’s definitely the kissing, you realized as it continued, his lips soft against yours, one hand moving slowly up the center of your back. 

And when you curled your fingers against the material of his shirt, the soft fabric wrinkling against your palms, you were certain of it. 

When Tim backed off to breathe, he didn’t go far, his exhale washing over your cheek and his forehead pressed to yours. “I’ve wanted to do that for a while.” 

“I have too.” You shivered, the admission easier than you’d imagined would be. “I should have kissed you in your office last week.” 

“Nope.” He chuckled, the sound low. “I’m glad you didn’t.” He lowered his hands to your waist, looking into your eyes. “It was worth the wait.” That made you smile, and even though you could have spent the rest of the night standing and staring into Tim’s eyes, there was something else for you to do, too. 

“Do you want to open your present now?” You straightened your shoulders, taking a slow breath. “It’s late and I’m sure you’re exhausted.” 

“I do.” He nodded, the palm of his hand moving back and forth over the elastic at your waist. “And I am. But …” Leaning in, he kissed you again, that one accompanied with a smile. “A couple more minutes won’t hurt.” 

It was almost unbelievable that you’d gone from being unsure that your feelings for Tim were reciprocated to having him in your living room in the middle of the night with his hands on you and the feel of his kiss fresh in your mind. But we’re here and he’s … I like this. “I guess not.” You pushed him away and then frowned, thinking. “Can I get you anything? I’m sure you didn’t remember to eat, and I’ve got stuff to drink, and -”

“I’m fine.” He waved you off and then held out a hand, gesturing to your couch. “Want to sit?” 

You did, taking a seat beside him, and you were pleased when Tim didn’t leave much space between you, instead settling in so that your thighs were pressed together. “You can open yours first. My house, my rules.” He nudged you with his elbow but reached for his gift, turning it over in both hands before beginning to unwrap it. You watched anxiously, unsure about your choice of gifts. It’ll be fine. “Your list was … well.” 

He hummed, pulling the tape back and then taking the lid of the box off to expose the tissue paper inside. “You wrapped everything separately?” He looked over, brows raised. “You didn’t have to do that.” Shrugging, you kept your lips pressed together. 

He opened the card first, which included the first gift, a $5 scratch off ticket. That got a laugh out of Tim, who held the ticket between two fingers as he scanned the text of the card - and your admission that you were his Secret Santa, and that while you hoped he won something on the lottery ticket, you didn’t want it to mean that you never saw him again. He set both things down onto the table before reaching over to set his hand on your knee and squeeze, thanking you. “You’re not done yet, Rockford.” 

He went for the larger of the two gifts next, picking it up and tearing through the paper to reveal the socks, which got another laugh out of him at the same time you started speaking. 

“You said that your feet get cold, and I thought they were funny, so…” 

“They are.” He rubbed at his eyes with two fingers, his smile wide. “They’re perfect.” Tim set the socks down and then reached for the final gift, moving the larger box back to the table before he opened the flat box and peered into it. “You got me tickets to see Die Hard?” 

You couldn’t read his tone - he was surprised, sure, but you couldn’t tell if it was in a good way or an annoyed one. Buying the tickets was a risk, and you’d known that. But it’s the main gift, so if he doesn’t like it… “They were sold out, though. How… how’d you get them?”

“I ordered them online the day we talked about it, and then went to the theater and printed them out.” You clasped your hands together in your lap. “You mentioned that you liked the movie, and I figured that even if you worked tomorrow during the day, you could go to the movie at night, and -”

He said your name and then reached over, his arm going back around you to urge you closer. “Thank you. It’s perfect. I’m supposed to be off tomorrow, and after today, I’m definitely taking the whole day.” 

“Good.” You rested your head on his shoulder, letting your eyes droop shut. “You deserve it.”

“And you,” he whispered, leaning forward and reaching for the second gift. “Deserve to open your present now.” You took it from him and then sat all the way up again, eyeing the tag. 

“It’s supposed to say Secret Santa, Tim. You wrote -”

“I wanted you to know it was from me.” He cleared his throat. “Open it.” You pulled the paper away, making note of the fact that he’d done an excellent job wrapping it, which didn’t come as a surprise. 

And when you pulled the box top off and pushed tissue paper to the side, it was your turn to laugh at the sight of the individually wrapped gifts. “We had the same idea.” You lifted the pair of socks from the box, ripping the paper off and turning them over to look at both sides, biting back laughter. I did like the dinosaurs the most.  

“My place does get cold.” He said your name, voice quiet. “And I figured that if I had you over to watch a movie with me, you’d want something warm to wear.” Wait, what? 

“Is that an invitation to your house?” He nodded. “So you planned on asking me to… fuck, Tim. That would have been enough of a gift to -”

“I had a limit I needed to spend.” He wrinkled his nose, and you were thrilled to see that he was as amused - and relieved - at your response to his admission. “And there’s other stuff in that box, too. So keep opening.” 

You reached for the second item, lifting it and sucking in a breath when you realized what it was. “This wasn’t on my list.” 

“It wasn’t. When I was down going through that evidence that last time, I heard you complaining that the ice in your drink melted too fast, so…” He pointed. “That thing’s supposed to keep that from happening for longer and keep your cups or water bottles from leaving rings on tables, too. I guessed on the size, so I hope it’s alright.” 

You didn’t know what to say. He was observant; that wasn’t in question. But you were stunned that in the short time he’d spent with you, he’d learned enough to know what you’d like, and what was useful. “It’s great.” 

“There’s something in it.” He pointed. “Last gift.” You peeked into the fabric and pulled out a gift card, turning your head toward Tim when you saw what it was. The coffee place I like. “Now you can try it out and see if it works.” 

“I’ll do that next time I go.” You tucked the card back inside and then put everything into the box before leaning forward to put it all on the table. “Look at me, Tim.” He did, shifting his body so that he could face you. You didn’t hesitate when you reached forward and took his hands, thumbs gliding over his knuckles. “Thank you. You put a lot of thought into that, and I appreciate it.” 

“You did, too.” He narrowed his eyes briefly and then nodded. “Do you have plans tomorrow?” The question caught you off guard, and it took you a few seconds to answer, telling him no. Why? What does he want? “Do you want to come see a movie with me?” He jerked his chin toward the table. “I’ve got an extra ticket.”

“That’s not why I bought two. I figured you had someone that you’d want to take, and -”

“I do.” He tightened the hold on your hands. “You.” Tim licked his lips, the tip of his tongue appearing between them briefly. “And maybe we can get a late dinner afterward?” 

“I’m off for the next two weeks.” You smiled and he did, too, the expression pushing his cheeks upward and deepening the creases at the outside corners of his eyes. Fuck he’s handsome. “That means there is no late for me.” 

“Good.” He mumbled the word as he leaned in, Tim’s eyes drooping shut. “That’s what I was hoping to hear.” 

That time when he kissed you, his lips were parted, giving him the opportunity to draw your lower one between them. He sucked gently on it and the pressure made you gasp, Tim using that as an opening to flick his tongue against it before he bit down, the drag of his teeth making you groan.

“You keep doing that and I’m not going to want you to leave, Detective.” You lifted one hand, pushing your fingers through the hair at his temples and humming at the softness. “In fact,” you continued, sighing as you kissed him again. “I already don’t.” 

“I’m here as long as you want me to be.” He spoke quietly, Tim’s voice low and full of need. “Your house, you can kick me out whenever y-”

You had no intention of kicking him out. You didn’t want him to leave, and if you were being honest with yourself, you didn’t want to let him go, and when you tugged on his hair and twisted your fingers into his shirt, urging him to kiss you again, you hoped that he got the hint. 

There was no hesitation on Tim’s part then; he met you open-mouthed, slipping his tongue past his lips to meet yours. At the first taste of him, you knew that you were done, and were almost angry at yourself for waiting so long to make a move with him. Because he wants this as much as I do. 

He brought a hand up to the back of your neck, fingers curling around it to hold you steady, and when it became necessary for you to separate, you were both breathing hard. “Well, shit.” He smiled, eyes bright. “I could get used to doing that.” 

“Good.” You repeated his words from a few minutes earlier. “That’s what I was hoping to hear.” 

[tmbgareok]

Big touring over the next three months! Australia! The UK and Ireland! US east coast! Best links at www.TMBG.com.

Hey everyone. John F. here. Normally, I would just speak this in a Vibe Report on YouTube, but there are too many important links here and too much granular information to not deliver it in text form! I want to bring everyone up to date on all these shows coming up, and the second shows that have been added where shows have sold out. 

We are in Australia starting in the beginning of October (!) and in the UK and Ireland in November (!) playing Flood shows where over the night we play all the songs off the LP. All of the shows are "an evening with" which means no opener/starts early, and we are joined by our 8-piece band. ADDED! 1 Oct Adelaide https://bit.ly/4aZS1eF 2 Oct Adelaide SOLD OUT 4 Oct Sydney SOLD OUT 5 Oct Sydney SOLD OUT ADDED! 7 Oct Brisbane https://bit.ly/qRl1At 8 Oct Brisbane https://bit.ly/3Li9hAD 10 Oct Melbourne https://bit.ly/s7Ez8q 11 Oct Melbourne SOLD OUT 13 Oct Perth SOLD OUT ADDED! 14 Oct Perth https://bit.ly/A3d5T

1 Nov Southampton https://bit.ly/PlQ92z 2 Nov Cambridge SOLD OUT 3 Nov London https://bit.ly/3UrQpDe 5 Nov Glasgow SOLD OUT 6 Nov Newcastle https://bit.ly/zZwQ8b 8 Nov Belfast https://bit.ly/3JUEEQV 9 Nov Dublin SOLD OUT 12 Nov Manchester SOLD OUT 13 Nov Leeds SOLD OUT 15 Nov Nottingham SOLD OUT 16 Nov Bristol SOLD OUT 17 Nov London SOLD OUT In December we'll be out with the Big Show Tour where we spotlight a different album each night of a stand. One show in each market will be a celebration of our John Henry album. That's 1 of 2 in Philly, 1 of 3 in DC, 1 of 1 in Brooklyn (!?!), and 1 of 2 in Boston! Which night will that happen? Time will tell...

12.5 Philadelphia SOLD OUT 12.6 Philadelphia SOLD OUT 12.7 Washington DC SOLD OUT 12.8 Washington DC SOLD OUT 12.9 Washington DC SOLD OUT 12.13 Brooklyn https://bit.ly/TMBG121324 12.14 Boston 1 https://bit.ly/TMBG121424 12.15 Boston 2 https://bit.ly/TMBG121524 AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR FOLKS WHO BOUGHT TICKETS LAST YEAR –– THESE RESCHEDULED SHOWS ARE FOR YOU!

Australia and British Isle ticket holders: your current tickets are valid for these new dates. Be sure to have your ticket confirmation email AND update your personal calendars NOW to avoid confusion later. In cities where we play multiple nights (Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, London), your ticket’s original date MUST match the new rescheduled date. These shows are mostly sold out, and that guy at the door won’t take tickets for other nights.

SO BE SURE TO MATCH YOUR TICKET TO THE SPECIFIC RESCHEDULED SHOW. (Many of these shows have also sold out, and additional shows have been added so CHECK THE DATE ON YOUR TICKET and match it to this very complete bit of information.)

Adelaide! The show booked originally on 8/10/23 is now on the 2nd of October

Sydney! The show booked originally on 6/10/23 is now on the 4th of October

Sydney! The show booked originally on 14/10/23 is now on the 5th of October

Brisbane! The show booked originally on 4/10/23 is now on the 7th of October 

Brisbane! The show booked originally on 5/10/23 is now on the 8th of October 

Melbourne! The show booked originally on 15/10/23 is now on the 10th of October 

Melbourne ! The show booked originally on 7/10/23 is now on the 11th of October 

Perth! The show booked originally on 11/10/23 is now on the 13th of October

London! The show booked originally on 5/11/23 is now on the 3rd of November London! The show booked originally on 18/11/23 is now on the 17th of November

[hermit-frog]

to be honest i was weirded out a bit that the biggest plot twist was lestat = the saviour. i still liked the episode and i do enjoy lestat as a character. but it felt like an unnecessary change to have lestat save louis at the trial. i thought the whole point of the trial was armand killing claudia and madeleine and painting lestat as the bad guy so he could have louis for himself. now it seems armand had no plan or reason to even let the trial take place? if he didn't want to "save" louis anymore... he just did it to please the coven or because he already sold the tickets or he was too passive to cancel his earlier plans? am i missing something?

not feeling that twist either, actually hate it. and their later meeting and Louis apologizing 😬

have already made a post about it, also recommend checking #vampterview, i'm 100% sure there's more cohesive meta that actually makes sense lol also the interviews are out, haven't read all of them (idk where to get links, also no time) but do check them out. i rarely trust actors' insight, but it seems that there's communication between the iwtv show-runners, writers and actors for better understanding of the plot and characters' motivation.

i thought the whole point of the trial was armand killing claudia and madeleine and painting lestat as the bad guy so he could have louis for himself.

that was his plan in the book, yes

it seems armand had no plan or reason to even let the trial take place? if he didn't want to “save” louis anymore... he just did it to please the coven or because he already sold the tickets or he was too passive to cancel his earlier plans? am i missing something?

Armand had a reason to go along.

I agree with Assad, and the thing about Madeleine is not only the turn itself, but also the disobedience.

Armand had to choose between an unloved but stable coven he knew for 200 years, or unstable disobedient hard to control Louis who couldn't express his feelings clearly enough to dissipate Armand's growing doubts/fear about their (his) future. Armand's fear of rejecting the coven in Louis' favor comes from him being terrified of loneliness and abandonment. What if he leaves me? I've got nothing/no one left. (which is worse for vampires, as it had been accentuated at least two times in this show)

Let's not forget that Armand went in those tunnels with the intent of killing Louis, so it's not even his 1st attempt to make a tough choice and soothe the coven back into its place, and tickle Santiago's ego. Louis' inability to integrate, submit and accept the rules was the problem. After the direct threat (especially at Claudia) Louis changes his behavior. He submits by doming Armand, makes an effort with the theatre, which ironically results with Louis putting his mask back on, role-playing Lestat in bed, and distancing/cooling himself even more.

Louis gives him what Armand was trying to obtain this whole time, — control over himself (with consequences for both of them). For a second there, Louis thinks he has some kind of real domination over Armand, but it's clear to the viewers that unfortunately it's not the case. As Assad had said, Louis turns Madeleine despite Armand's “disapproval��. Disobedience (loss of control, no stability, possible loneliness), again. A big shift in their relationship that solidifies the choice.

Sacrifice had to be done regardless of Armand's feelings towards Louis, that's how he survives. Armand has his priorities. Control via rituals and rules gives him a sense of security, he prefers familiarity even if it's abusive and indifferent, anything but solitude. Armand would rather not move at all than risk and lose something he's used to/what he already has, even if he hates it. His fear leads to stupor, pain to disassociation. So he just stands there, in his cage, pretending everything's fine. The choice is whom to pull in.

Louis' attachment/dependence to/on Claudia (who was doomed from the start no matter what) would be a problem after her death, resulting in a complete broken/unstable/detached/chaotic/very hard to control Louis. If Armand wasn't sure about his future with Louis before the coven's ultimatum/play, now he is 100% sure, not even worth risking his comfortable confinement to try. (we saw a glimpse of the conflict and how Armand had dealt with it in the 70s)

After Louis refuses to leave and destroys the coven, Armand has nothing left but Louis. Better this than nothing, i'll make it work. He was panicking in the Magnus' tower, luckily for him Lestat is the worst, so Armand creates a new cage. You could see the fear in his eyes during the Dubai big reveal, hear it in his voice. Stupidly, he decided to diminish/deescalate the seriousness of the situation in the worst possible way (not that it would change something), which resulted in Louis bonking Armand's head against the wall. (same situation with Lestat in the tower: “And I have to be willing… and I'm not in the mood.”, but in this case Armand had allowed Louis his rightful outburst). Guess it's now Daniel's turn, lol

not going to lie, i lost it at your line: “because he already sold the tickets”, the idea of Armand going further with his act because the tickets were already sold sends me

[amandapalmer]

THE DRESDEN DOLLS ARE TOURING AGAIN!

THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE TICKET LINK FOR THESE SHOWS WILL BE TO JOIN THE BAND'S EMAIL LIST:

HERE IS THE LINK, PLEASE SIGN UP. Just put in your email, it takes seconds, and we promise not to spam you.

....

It’s been a long, long time since I posted to Tumblr, but I have a decent reason to come over: my band - The Dresden Dolls - is finally touring again. Yeeeeee!!!! Brian (the other Doll) and I are slowly but surely working on a new record (it’ll be our first studio album in, gulp, about 20 years), and we are plotting a huge global touring show in a few years. We are getting ready...slowly, and we want to start where we like it: in sweaty, intimate tiny little clubs. So we are gonna do four runs of TEENY TINY CLUB SHOWS over four weekends in the USA this May/June. New songs, old songs, experiments, covers, joy, catharsis. Loud. Quiet. FEELINGS. 

We did this in Woodstock, NY in August this past summer (at a 400-capacity club called The Colony) and it was ... incredible. Just magic and sweaty and beautiful and intense and everything we love about playing live. First up is DENVER, CO, at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, which fits about 400 souls.

We will be announcing the three next cities in the next week or so, here on socials and on the band website. 

We will be sending the ticket link and password to our email list community about 48 hours before the ticket sale goes live. All four cities will go on sale on the same day. (And warning: our last few shows sold out in a matter of **hours**).We will send an email to the Dolls' email list with ALL ticket links and Passwords at around 5pm, Friday March 10. THEN....GET READY. Those links will go live, and tickets for ALL SHOWS will go on sale with those email list passwords on Monday, March 13th @ 10am LOCAL TIME. NOTE: the venues might be posting the LINK to the tickets, but it will be inaccessible without the PASSWORD which will be in the Mailer. Again, you gotta be on the band email list to get the ticket link. The PUBLIC ONSALE, if there are any tickets left (which is doubtful) will be Friday, March 17 @ 10am (local time for each city). ABOUT THE POSTER: South African artist Niki McQueen made a unique poster for all four cities, and we'll be making limited edition prints of all the art and selling it at the shows and online. And....if you wanna have fun, see if you can guess where we are gonna play next. We promise you: these cities & venues are WEIRD. Denver is like, the most normal of them all....try us.LONG LIVE THE PUNK CABARET, dear ones. We love you all...hope to see you out there.

[wiiildflowerrr]

'5 Seconds of Summer have proven why support acts shouldn't be overlooked'

Daily Mirror (UK), 5 October 2023

'5 Seconds of Summer may have had a helping hand from One Direction but almost eight years since their last tour with the group, the Aussie lads have proven they're more than enough, writes Daniel Bird...'

Full article / review of The 5SOS Show Manchester below (link):

'Arguably one of the biggest bands right now, it's no surprise that 5 Seconds of Summer are continuing to sell out arenas.

Having seen the four Aussies at the start of their career, playing in venues with a capacity of 300 with tickets being sold for less than £15, to now seeing them at stadiums and sold-out arenas, they've come a long way. Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin first joined forces in 2011, uploading videos to YouTube and amassing a string of fans.

One of those happened to be Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, who invited the quartet to support them on their 2013 Take Me Home Tour. They went on to support the 1D lads for another two years on the Where We Are and On The Road Again tours, performing to millions of fans across the globe.

But while they were warming the crowd up, the group were also busy with their own music, with early releases including Out Of My Limit and arguably their best track, Heartache on the Big Screen, they soon went on to establish their own name, 5SOS (five sauce). With this new-found fame came their own fans, in their thousands.

Tickets for their headline shows would sell out within minutes as fans packed venues to hear their favourite songs live. But in 12 years, they've proven that support acts shouldn't be overlooked. Many of us go to gigs, often missing the support act or not taking anything away from them but these lads were different.

Was it their humour? Their childish energy at times? Their on-stage banter with one another? That's something we won't know but their recent show at Manchester's AO Arena on the The 5 Seconds of Summer Show was certainly one of their best. Opening the show with Bad Omens, certainly set the mood for the night as Luke, Calum, Michael and Ashton delved through their back catalogue and delivered an electric set.

Part of the show included audience participation, with a giant red dice being launched into the audience by Hemmings, allowing the crowd to choose the next song, with Voodoo Doll being chosen, much to the excitement of the 21,000 roaring fans. This opened a gateway for the lads to discuss their past, with Ashton recalling staying at a hotel over the road from the arena while supporting One Direction.

"About ten people knew who we were at the time, now look," he exclaimed while reflecting on their meteoric rise to success as he recalled performing at smaller venues before the band managed to sell out the biggest indoor arena in Europe. But while reflecting, the group looked towards the future as they stated their plans for the next few months are pretty empty.

This, however, is for good reason as lead guitarist Michael is set to welcome his first child with his wife, Chrystal Leigh Clifford. Joking about his future, he laughed while saying he will be going from playing in front of thousands of fans to having a "house covered in poop" before Luke interjected, adding he will be able to teach Clifford's daughter how to wear make-up.

Anecdotes aside, the group certainly showcased their performance skills and failed to stand still for the cheering crowd as they made their presence in the arena known. Having seen the lads perform countless times, this was certainly their best performance to date.'

X

[louisupdates]

BEHIND THE CAMPAIGN: LOUIS TOMLINSON

MUSICALLY | 19 APRIL 2023

Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson released his debut album in 2020 through Sony but moved to BMG for his second album, Faith In The Future, in November 2022. Lisa Wilkinson, director of UK marketing (new recordings) at BMG, explains how they looked to reposition him in the market, what learnings were coming from his live success as well as his own festival, why his merchandise strategy directly informed his multi-formatted record release strategy, how they were able to build him without mass radio support, where a wider male audience was targeted this time round, why Twitter remains his most powerful social media platform and how a highly vocal and engaged fanbase was nurtured further and directly involved in the campaign.

Lisa Wilkinson, director of UK marketing (new recordings) at BMG, explains how they looked to reposition him in the market, what learnings were coming from his live success as well as his own festival, and more.

[The article will be broken into sections, linked below.]

1. Coming to BMG for his second solo album

2. The centrality of merchandise

3. The radio conundrum

4. Targeting a male audience

5. Building his songwriting profile

6. Targeting the press

7. Boosting the digital strategy

8. QR code and interactive community map at his Away From Home festival

9. Twitter as his main platform and setting him up on TikTok

10. Chart battle with Bruce Springsteen and the power of in-stores

11. Stationhead and Tim’s Twitter Listening Party

12. Fan-made Spotify Canvases

13. Documentary and the next steps

☆彡

1. COMING TO BMG FOR HIS SECOND SOLO ALBUM

This is his first album with BMG. His debut album, Walls in 2020, was with Syco Music [via Sony]. That was off the back of X Factor with Simon Cowell.

He had done a couple of more commercial singles – one with Steve Aoki [‘Just Hold On’] and one with Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals [‘Back To You’]. They were really successful streaming singles, but that’s not who Louis is. For the boys in One Direction, the ones that have been successful and the songs that have been successful are the ones that have stayed super pop and commercial. Louis did that but it’s just not who he is.

I think he felt, in that structure, that he just wasn’t getting the support to be who he wanted to be. That’s exactly why people come to us. It’s an artist services deal and we’re there to support you and advise you.

You can see from his live business and his merchandise business – and every other thing that Louis does – that there is an incredible fanbase there for him.

When they [Syco] released Walls, they achieved 14,000 units in week one and got to number 4 in Q1 in January 2020. We thought that just didn’t feel reflective of what was happening [around him].

We went and saw him at various venues on his world tour. We went to New York and saw those two shows and we went to Italy and watched his Milan stadium show in front of 30,000 people.

You’re looking and you’re thinking, “Those numbers don’t make any sense. How on Earth did you fumble that?” We were confident that we could do better than that.

He had a signing dinner in October 2021 and then his world tour started in February 2000, which was the delayed tour [due to the pandemic]. It went all the way through to September, pretty much nonstop.

They sold half a million tickets that year. All the while he’s on tour, he’s still making the album.

‘Out Of My System’ was released as a DSP-focused track before the album. It’s the rockiest and heaviest track on the album. He came straight off stage, went into a vocal booth off the side of the stage [to record it]. Because of the energy, he was so fired up. It was a difficult process because it was creating an album on the road.

He wanted to make an album for live. It was a totally different experience for him. Covid hit just a few months after Walls dropped so the tour was out of the question.

Before we started working on the album campaign, he did a show at Crystal Palace Bowl, which was the first incarnation of his Away From Home festival that he’s created and curated, which is for up-and-coming indie bands.

He gave away 8,000 tickets in August 2021 when we could start doing outdoor things again. I was there and was thinking, “There’s something big going on here.” The fans were so committed and dedicated.

Considering this is someone who hasn’t had real radio support or is seen in celebrity magazines or on social posts, this is a huge phenomenon.

That continued into the tour.

[joy2paris]

My second mother Cleo Sol dropped her third album. Guys, I am in no way exaggerating when I say that this woman has saved my life. Her music is the most beautiful, calming, affirming, reassuring, uplifting, vulnerable, healing spiritual thing my ears have been honoured to have heard. I just used a million synonyms but I do not care. This is so deep but she is the reason I am still here. In the rare moments where I have been uncontrollably anxious (feel glad to say it is not been that often), or even when I have smaller moments of that feeling - that tension completely eradicates when I put this woman's songs on and just take it all in. And it is her melodies (shout out her husband Inflo for producing all her stuff) and lyrics that have given me the courage to persist, it's mad. I think it is also important to note that although she mainly restores one's equilibrium and ensures you are always accepting love and light above anything else, she does not shy away from singing about the pains of life too.

I have been blessed to have been to both of her only two concerts she has ever put on (literally such a flex, the tickets sold in seconds). I also went with a dear friend of mine, who also makes music and her boyfriend also came, and he produces my friend's stuff. These two love Cleo as much as me, which made the live performances even more special. In her very first one we were in front row and in direct view of her. The way I sobbed that evening???? It was CATHARTIC! Ugh! Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Her vocal ability is also unmatched. She sounded even better than her studio recordings which I thought was impossible. One of the best days of my life, no question. I ordered a poster of her second album all the way from the US specifically to bring with me to Paris. If I could bring nothing else but that poster I would have done it. I needed to have a visual reminder of her everyday lol. Her debut album is what first introduced me to her (shout out my other dear friend who put me onto her). You know those artists where you instantly fall in love with their stuff. She actually dropped that album on my 18th birthday, which was only exactly a week into lockdown. Everything she sung spoke to me in ways I did not even realise was possible.

I listened to this new album as an extremely exhausted individual on the first metro back LOL. I was way too tired to take it all in, but I instantly fell in love with the last track. I had very high expectations as you can tell from my opinion of her other two albums (her group SAULT she is part of is also magical; pure magic). I have listened in a more awake state and she did not disappoint. As of now, my heart still lies with the other two albums but I can assure these ones will grow on me even more. I really like 'Heaven' and 'Miss Romantic' - the latter has an upbeat, sassy feel which is fun to listen to.

I just remembered that she also links to this whole year abroad thing too. As stated many times, I was up in arms about deciding. I chose to do the age old trick where you flip a coin and whatever the thing lands on you do. “I am Free - SAULT” which Cleo does the vocals for was playing in the background (I filmed myself doing it - I would post here but I am loving this anonymous life on here so far). Hearing that alongside receiving the side of the coin that said to do it, it made me emotional but I just really chose to listen to the lyrics and just go against the grain of myself. Bro I sound so moist😂😂😂😂But this is all true

I really want to meet her one day and tell her how she literally saved me haha

[brn1029]

This date in rock music history…

August 17th

2009 - Pink Floyd

A thief in New Zealand took the unusual step of leaving his contact details at the site of his crime. The man reserved a copy of Pink Floyd's The Wall at a record shop in Christchurch, leaving his name and phone number, before robbing the till. He was a regular customer at the shop and already had several records on order.

2008 - Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne was suing US Republican presidential candidate John McCain for using one of his songs without permission. Browne claimed the use of his song Running on Empty in an advert was an infringement of copyright and would lead people to conclude he endorses McCain. Browne was seeking more than $75,000 (£40,000) in damages.

1999 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin topped a chart of Britain's most bootlegged musicians, compiled by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), after identifying 384 bootleg titles featuring Led Zeppelin performances. The bootleg chart was complied from the BPI's archive of some 10,000 recordings seized over the past 25 years. The Beatles came in second with 320 entries, other acts listed included The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd.

1979 - Anita Pallenberg

The New York Post reported that Anita Pallenberg (the wife of Keith Richards) was linked to a witches coven in South Salem, New York where Richards owned a house. A policeman claimed he was attacked by a flock of black-hooded, caped people and a local youth claimed he had been invited by Pallenburg to take part in ‘pot smoking sex orgies’. Locals also claimed they found ‘ritualistic stakes’ and small animals that had been ‘sacrificed’ near the house.

1974 - Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 461 Ocean Boulevard, a No.3 hit in the UK. The house featured on the album cover is 461 Ocean Boulevard in the town of Golden Beach, Florida (near Miami) where Clapton lived while making the album.

1973 - Paul Williams

Former Temptations singer Paul Williams was found dead in his car, after shooting himself. He owed $80000 in taxes and his celebrity boutique business had failed.

1969 - Woodstock Festival

The final day of the 3 day Woodstock Festival took place at Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York. Acts who appeared included Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Ten Years After, John Sebastian, Sha Na Na, Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, The Band, Ten Years After, Johnny Winter and Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Over 186,000 tickets had been sold but on the first day, the flimsy fences and ticket barriers had come down. Organizers announced the concert would be a free event, prompting thousands more to head for the concert.

1968 - Doors

The Doors started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Waiting For The Sun. The group's third album spawned their second US No.1 single, 'Hello, I Love You'.

1968 - Young Rascals

The Rascals (formerly the Young Rascals), started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'People Got To Be Free'. The group had thirteen US top 40 hits.

1965 - The Byrds

The Byrds were forced to cancel a concert during their UK tour at The Guildhall, Portsmouth when only 250 of the 4,000 tickets had been sold.

1964 - The Beatles

Glasgow council in Scotland announced that all boys and men with Beatle styled haircuts would have to wear bathing caps after a committee was told that hair from 'Beatle-cuts' was clogging the pools filters.

[mysmorgasbordoffantabulosa]

New to the fandom, so asking this question. What is the controversy with the charts especially Billboard? Have they actually changed the rules without notice, as some fans claim?

Until a few years ago, the charts weighted digital downloads the same as physical sales almost the same as streaming/radio. But then BTS started doing really well in the charts, mostly from digital downloads because of the lack of playlisting on spotify (a known Payola systems designed to over inflate streams) and radio playlisting (an even more established form of payola, and one that is still believed to be alive today).

So when BTS started doing well they started changing the rules. Now initially they would do this after BTS... here are some of the key ones in recent years:

This mostly effected albums, but oddly not BTS and was more of a blow to artists like Taylor Swift who sold concert tickets / merch with albums. BTS never did this. It also introduced YouTube Streams as part of streaming numbers as streaming became more prominent.

Physical sales where changed to only count once they ship not on day of release, and may thought this was specifically directed at BTS considering the disproportionately more physical sales that BTS (and K-Pop artists in general) always made.

Next big change was...

The big change here was on digital downloads. Whereas previously "up to four purchases of a single digital track were recognized for a single user (account) per week." The new ruled limited this to "only one purchase per week."

This rule was further tighten earlier this year to that it was linked to an email 1 song per email per week.

Most of these changes were implement weeks / months after their anouncement.

So why are ARMY up in arms... Well this...

Billboard filtered more than 100,000 digital download sales for the second week of Like Crazy's run on the charts. So why did it happened...

Well Billboard it appears has implemented an additional change to the 1 song per email per week rule by taking out the 'per week', without announcement or notice during the second week of Like Crazy's sales.

So Brian solo stans a obviously pissed, but so are the wider ARMY as this also impacts on others in the group and the wider K-Pop community.

[patekwatchreplicaf246x]

How to Know If Your Rolex is Fake or Real: A Comprehensive Guide

Purchasing a Rolex watch is often seen as a ticket to luxury and status. However, with the high demand for these timepieces comes a significant number of counterfeit watches flooding the market. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, knowing how to distinguish a real Rolex from a fake one is crucial. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some key indicators to help you make an informed decision.

1. Examine the Weight

One of the first things to consider when determining the authenticity of a Rolex is its weight. Genuine Rolex watches are made from high-quality materials, which gives them a substantial feel. If the watch feels light or flimsy, it may be a counterfeit. Compare it with a genuine model if possible, as the difference in weight is often noticeable.

2. Check the Movement

Rolex watches are known for their precision and reliability, which is largely due to their in-house movements. A genuine Rolex will have a smooth sweeping second hand, whereas many fakes use quartz movements that produce a ticking motion. If you can, open the case back and inspect the movement; authentic Rolex movements are meticulously crafted and often engraved with the brand's logo.

3. Inspect the Dial

The dial of a Rolex is another area where fakes often fall short. Look closely for any inconsistencies in the printing. The text should be crisp and clear, without any smudging or misalignment. Pay attention to the cyclops lens as well; it should magnify the date by 2.5 times and be perfectly centered over the date window.

4. Look for the Serial and Model Numbers

Every Rolex has a unique serial and model number located between the lugs on the case. These numbers can tell you a lot about the watch, including its production year. Genuine Rolex numbers are finely engraved and not merely printed. If the numbers appear shallow or poorly done, it’s likely a fake.

5. The Crown Logo

The Rolex crown logo should be present on the watch and is a critical indicator of authenticity. On many models, the crown is laser-etched into the crystal at the 6 o'clock position. This etching is very fine and can only be seen under magnification. If the crown is not present or looks poorly executed, the watch may not be genuine.

6. Examine the Bracelet and Clasp

Rolex bracelets are robust and feature solid links. The clasp should close smoothly and display the Rolex logo. If the links are hollow or the clasp feels loose, this could be a sign of a counterfeit. Additionally, authentic Rolex clasps have a specific weight and feel, which can help distinguish them from fakes.

7. Price Point

Rolex watches are premium products and come with a price tag to match. If you find a Rolex being sold for a fraction of its retail price, proceed with caution. While there are legitimate ways to buy used or discounted Rolex watches, a deal that seems too good to be true often is. Always do your research and buy from reputable sellers.

8. Consider the Source

When purchasing a Rolex, it’s crucial to consider where you’re buying it from. Reliable retailers, authorized dealers, and reputable online platforms should be your go-to options. At Luxe Replica Watche, we offer a wide range of high-quality replica watches that capture the essence of luxury without breaking the bank. Always opt for trusted e-commerce sites that provide detailed product descriptions and customer reviews.

Conclusion

In conclusion, determining whether a Rolex is real or fake requires careful examination and attention to detail. By considering factors such as weight, movement, dial quality, and the seller’s reputation, you can make a more informed decision. If you're looking for high-quality replica watches that offer style and sophistication, check out Luxe Replica Watche for choices that won't disappoint.

[emilieautumnarchives]

Home & Dry: Tour Pix and New Trix

Posted: November 4, 2008 Archived from BonnyTymePyrate’s Journal Archives

Oh, Dear Plague Rats,

Clean stockings, clean corsets, and clean hair. That is the sole pleasure of coming home after a tour – the rest is like the day after Christmas when the tree has to come down.

Or does it?

We still have NEW York and FUCKING CANADA!!!

New York: Nov. 10th, The Madison Toronto: Nov. 13th, The Legendary Red Rooster (Sold Out, Second Date Added) Toronto: Nov. 14th, The Legendary Red Rooster

TICKET INFO HERE!

Say you’ll come and witness the first American Asylum Show because this will be a historic night of wickedness for us that will never be duplicated! Now, for those of you who were so kind to join me and the Bloody Crumpets on this most fabulous European Asylum: The Gate Tour 2008, thank you from the bottom of the hole in my chest where my heart used to be. Thank you for singing, dancing your little gothic asses off, not complaining when the Captain Maggot threw “tea” in your eyes, not crying when the Blessed Contessa burned my arms with her fire sticks nightly, showing my broken doll, Aprella, all your love and sympathy, letting Little Miss Sugarless crowd surf on your delicate pale hands, kissing the plague-ridden lips of Naughty Veronica, not running at the sound of my magical confetti canon as it shot streamers and teabags directly into your faces, and, most of all, joining my Asylum Army and uniting with me, your devoted Rat, in the international fight against bear thieves, and to bring Suffer 1 and 2 home. Never forget how much power you hold, because I cannot do it alone. I’m counting on you. For those of you who could not fit into these jam-packed (what the hell does that mean anyway) concert halls, here is a taste of what went on in my world both onstage and off:

OnStage! [dead link]

[Photo Missing]

See more offstage pix here:

OffStage! [dead link]

NOW! Did you know that: 1. My ages-old book of poetry, “Your Sugar Sits Untouched,” is on sale at iTunes in the audio book version. This is the only way you can buy the poetry book. 2. My Alternative Magazine cover/interview is out all over America and Europe (includes scans from the upcoming Asylum Book). 3. US VERSION OF “OPHELIAC” HAS BEEN REALEASED! Through the Asylum’s new kick-ass distribution partners, you can now find a special US version of the double-disc album that started the Plage in stores across the States such as Borders, Hot Topic, etc. US Version includes the following Bonus Tracks (would you expect anything less?): 1. The Art of Suicide: Acoustic Version 2. Interview with EA 3. Opheliac Outtakes Now, packing up my crumpets, rats, and teabags and heading off to the city that never sleeps, because neither do I. With Love & Bloody Crumpets from the Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, Block B, Cell W14, Inmate A, EA P.S. The Plague: Get it. Feed it. Spread it. Bitches.

[kmp78]

“Is that just a nice way of saying we only sold 50 seats?” Hold on 30 seconds… This is happening across the world. Performers are cancelling all over and switching to smaller venues. I explained all this several days ago when all anyone could focus on was the ‘black curtains’. Fans are being more cautious about spending money on concerts and are picking and choosing and budgeting their entertainment money. Booking in smaller venues and slightly out of the way places where these venues might be is not specific to Mars but is an industry trend with several reasons. If you want to believe that black curtains can only mean reduced Mars popularity then do so but if you want the whole story and not just one side of it, read the NBC News article at the link below and learn the actual facts.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/concert-ticket-sales-why-are-artists-canceling-shows-tours-prices-rcna154558

But it's not just the times and that harsh economy we live in.

Mars had this exact same issue during that last US tour 6 years ago. 🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

He constantly overestimates his allure in the States, even when he has 4-5 other acts on the bill. 🙄

Yankees just don't give a fuck about Mars. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Which is a darn shame since he tried soooooo hard to win them over by even naming an album after them... 😭

[crookedvoidluminary]

Take Advantage of the Presale Opportunities Available

There are times when acquiring tickets to well-known events might feel like an insurmountable obstacle, particularly when there is a huge demand and the event is completely sold out. You can, however, significantly improve your chances of securing tickets to your preferred concerts, musicals, or sporting events before they are even made available to the general publ ic by employing some proactive techniques and gaining a little bit of knowledge about the opportunities that are available for presale.

The term "presales" refers to unique ticket access periods that take place before to the beginning of official ticket sales. These pre-sales are made available to fans, subscribers, or certain groups linked with the entertainment business. For the purpose of acquiring early tickets and gaining admission to a variety of events in advance, it is vital to have a solid understanding of the many sorts of presale codes and the locations where they can be found.

It is essential that you have a presale code finder as one of the tools in your arsenal. In addition to searching for active codes, these programs also look for codes that are highly particular, such as venue-specific or artist-related presales. In order to have access to a venue presale password, it may be necessary to subscribe to the newsletter hosted by a specific performance center. By the same token, a password for an artist presale might be disseminated through the artist's fan newsletters or through the artist's social media channels.

Take into consideration the possibility of utilizing specialist presale passwords that are made available by fan clubs or groups such as Wiseguys in your pursuit of the best seats. Those that follow Wiseguys presale passwords reap the benefits of having codes that are reliably updated and updated in a timely manner, which puts timely information at their fingers. The usage of a Spotify presale password allows music lovers to gain access to concerts and music festivals that are highlighted by Spotify. This highlights the engagement and incentive that Spotify provides for its app users.

Obtaining a fanclub presale code is an absolute necessity for individuals who are participating in fandoms that are more decisive. One of the benefits of these codes is that they grant access to exclusive seating blocks that are designated exclusively for members of the official fan club. These codes are aimed specifically at devoted fans and frequently require membership or registration with the fan club.

Another resource that is becoming increasingly popular among attendees of events is TMPresale passwords. These passwords are gaining popularity because they offer timely and thorough access to a wide range of presale bargains across a number of different events. Given the availability of such resources, obtaining an early ticket appears to be less of a matter of chance and more of a matter of certainty.

It is common knowledge that preparedness is essential when purchasing tickets. Ensure that you are in possession of specific event notices and that you have registered for all relevant newsletters and fan clubs in advance. Also, in order to solve potential problems with online purchasing, you should make sure that your account information is up to date on websites that sell tickets and that you have a complete understanding of the process that they use to purchase tickets. In situations where every second counts, such as during fast-selling presale events, this method helps save valuable time.

The act of maximizing your chances in the presale game not only increases the likelihood that you will be able to attend events that are highly sought after, but it also makes the entire experience, from the procurement of tickets to the actual event itself, more joyful and stress-free. Your ability to stay educated, prepared, and linked to numerous presale outlets, such as todays presale passwords, will allow you to make concert-going experiences more accessible and rewarding. If you are able to acquire the appropriate presale codes at the appropriate moment, you will be able to gain a significant advantage in the competition for the ideal concert experience. This is because the world is filled with fans who are eager and occasionally angry.

[mahamid110]

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Tapestry: Epiphany!

This is the second event I am assigned to help with the music. For this event, I was called in relatively late into the rehearsal schedule.

A little background on Tapestry: Epiphany.

It is a Disney-themed opening concert for TP's Arts festival called TAPESTRY. In this concert, there are multiple acts with different arts CCA, and this is one of the important events in TAPESTRY.

This post is a summary of my involvement across the entire production/rehearsal schedule.

17 October 2023

I was called in to help out with one of the band performing for the concert (there are 2 bands). The band will be playing 2 songs:

Love is an open door - Frozen

If only - Descendants

When I entered the studio today, the band was not prepared and most of them have yet to learn the song and arrangement. This was kind of off putting because as an instructor I expect my students to be prepared so that we can work on more exciting musical elements, instead of just teaching them how the songs go.

I assisted them in learning the songs by helping them out with chordal works as well as charting the songs for them so that they can easily sight read.

I gave my feedback to the student committee about this incident in hopes that band members would be more prepared in the future.

A learning point for me is that I should ask for current progress updates on where the band is at the moment, so that I can better prepare myself before coming into the studio.

25 - 27 October 2023

Music Vox has already bumped into the venue, Temasek Convention Centre (TCC).

25 October

The bands were practicing on stage and getting a feel for the stage. We focused more on the performance side of things; ie. Stage presence, blocking, sound. The time was also used for bands to prepare for previews (vettings) with CCA Advisors and Instructors the following day.

26 October

Full Show Previews were held with CCA Advisors and Instructors. This is crucial for us to provide feedback about the entire show as well as the music.

One aspect I commented on was the tightness of the rhythm section. It felt like they were not glueing together as the should or as they did in the jamming studios. It turned out to be because of monitoring issues.

Apparently, the stage monitors were all linked to the same channel, hence, not providing the option of individualised mix for each performer. This meant that some of the performers could barely hear what they were singing/playing.

It's not an ideal situation to be in but that is just how things are sometimes. And as performers, we have to adapt to make things work on stage. We advised the performers to really rely on the acoustic sound of the drums to lock in that rhythm section.

This was not a situation we could control as the sound system is fixed in place and we had no budget of outsourcing and external sound system.

Apart from that, I had other comments about the more generic stuff, as seen below.

As an instructor, I really want my students to do well in music, as well as how they run their events and the CCA in general.

27 October 2023

Proper soundcheck for each act was executed by the production team. (The production team consists of students from the Production Crew CCA, so they may not have enough experience as well).

The various bands/acts worked on the comments given by the CCA Advisors and Instructors.

Worked with the guitarists to sculpt their tones.

31 October SHOW DAY!

Doors opened at 7pm, and it was sold out! Props to the marketing team for this event for being able to sell out their tickets. I didn't gave any comments to the bands or the student committee after the show was over, because i understand that they were already tired from weeks of rehearsal and the show itself.

Here's some snippet of the show!

I think as an instructor, I was able to advise and guide them thoroughly along the entire production. There were hiccups here and there however, I have to understand that these shows are student led and that they are in the process of learning as well. I think I was also able to learn a thing or two about live show production and how the back end things are done.